Crop protection

Worldwide viticulture covers about 7.5 million ha and makes intensive use of pesticides The main insect pests threatening worldwide viticulture are currently two moth species. Scientists Thiery et al. critically reviewed the different options able to reduce or replace synthetic insecticide-based control. Very recent results promote the use of grassing and floral strips between the grape rows to increase pest control by spiders or parasitoid wasps. The production and release of such natural enemies have a great potential to render biological control strategies more efficient and reduce insecticide use in vineyards.

Understanding the spatial distribution of insects is important to favour pollinators and natural enemies settlement for a sustainable management of insect pests. Scientists Nguyen and Nansen reviewed an important spatial phenomenon that is widespread among agricultural insect species: why is their distribution skewed towards field edges ?

The effective management of fruit fly and other pests of national significance requires cooperation between farmers, communities and industries. Scientists Mankad et al studied the potential barriers and facilitators for adoption of innovative practices able to reduce biosecurity risks. They also explored social attitudes towards the use of novel sterile insect technology. This is a worldwide topical discussion, as nations should prepare for managing increased biological and agricultural risks due to rising international trade.

In order to manage agricultural pests, the promotion of food resources and habitat quality to sustain natural enemies is a promising alternative to insecticides. Scientists Cahenzli et al. showed that abundance of spiders during the previous autumn reduced fruit damage caused by the rosy apple aphid during the following summer. Indeed, larger spider web areas caught more immigrating aphids in autumn, resulting in lower numbers of aphid fundatrices in the following spring and subsequently lower fruit damage.

The parasitic plant crenate broomrape is the major constraint for dry pea cultivation in the Mediterranean Basin and the Middle East. Scientists Fondevilla et al. identified pea breeding lines showing stable resistance to broomrape and high productivity. These lines will be particularly useful for the sustainable control of broomrape.

Conventional oil palm agriculture relies heavily on chemical herbicides to control weeds in plantations. The overuse of chemical herbicides has adverse impacts on the environment and biodiversity. Scientists Tohiran et al. show for the first time that targeted cattle grazing can control weeds and improve avian biodiversity. The application of targeted grazing as a biological control method for weeds is in line with the expectations of greater sustainability sought by palm oil consumers and certification bodies.

Sustainable heat-based techniques and exploiting solar energy, are promoted worldwide for the eradication of plant pathogenic fungi, weeds and nematodes. Agronomists Castello et al. showed for the first time that soil solarization with innovative films can also be a sustainable option for growers, especially in the Mediterranean basin, to control effectively the natural infections caused by phytopathogenic bacteria on greenhouse tomatoes.

Weedy rice has become one of the most common weeds infesting rice fields in the world. Agronomists Nadir et al. review the biological features of this weed and explore ways for its sustainable management and utilization. Weedy rice has several traits potentially useful for breeders, such as tolerance to drought, cold, salinity and many diseases. Exploiting the weedy germplasm natural variation gives hopes of improving the rice crop.

Under conservation agriculture, low biomass production impairs the permanent soil cover and thus limits its usual weed-suppressing benefits. Smallholders farmers must, therefore, find other methods of weed control. Scientists Lee and Thierfelder reviewed the applicability of strategies available to smallholder farmers in rainfed dryland areas of southern Africa. They found that a combination of strategies and further research into new technologies, such as weed steaming, could help farmers to better address weed management challenges.

Viticulture carries on using the spraying of chemicals to control weeds and pathogens and their environmental impacts are clearly asserted. Moneyron et al. argue that the diversity of participants involved in viticulture contributes to this situation. This is mainly due to their differences in perspectives and practices, positions, knowledge, and reasoning. However, disagreements between participants may lead to the emergence of new practices, representing agronomic solutions designed for zero herbicide viticulture.